Cancer weakened her slowly but never took her clarity. Near the end, when speaking became difficult, she gave me instructions. She made me promise not to respond to Caleb with anger, even if grief created an opportunity for him to take something that wasn’t his.
I hadn’t understood her warning then.
Now I did.
Vanessa moved closer with the camera pointed at me. “We know this is emotional, but Caleb has investors coming. The house needs renovations before listing.”
“Listing?” I asked.
Caleb sighed. “We’re selling. Vanessa and I found a better property near the country club.”
I carefully folded the eviction notice.
Then I reached into a kitchen drawer and pulled out a sealed cream envelope.
I placed it before him.
Caleb’s name was written across it in Ruth’s handwriting.
He froze.
“What is that?” he asked.
“From your mother,” I said. “She told me to give it to you only if you tried to remove me from my own home.”
His face turned white.
